Flatmesh Weavers - Family: Oecobiidae
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Also known as Disc Web Spiders or Wall Spiders the Oecobiidae are a small family of 120 species in 6 genera. They prefer warm to tropical climates and whereas most are relatively localised in their distribution, the Wall Spider, Oecibus navus, one of the smaller species, is found around the world. Oecobiid spiders are quite variable in size ranging anywhere between 2 - 20 mm. however, most are towards the smaller end of this range. They are short-legged and the carapace is usually well rounded. Some species are very well adapted to human habitats.
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Oecobiids have either six or eight closely grouped eyes, and the legs quite evenly spaced around the prosoma although the two forward pairs may sweep backwards a little. Because of this latter feature some people refer to them as' Star-legged Spiders'. Many species build small, star shaped temporay webs that often consist of two separate layers that, because they are connected at intervals, form an almost cave-like structure with a number of entrances at the perimeter through which the prey - and the chasing spider - may enter.
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Due to their, often, small size Oecobiids are rather specific in their food choices and ants are the staple on the menu for many. However, for some species local abundance of prey species does play a role in their choice of food. A species that will eat mostly ants in one area may well eat certain small flies in a different locality. This selectivity in prey choices is referred to as trophic specialization.
Unlike most spiders who encapsulate their prey in silk using their legs to manipulate both prey animal and silk, the Oecobiids tend to run around their capture wrapping it in a feathery silk as they go. To accomplish this they have a specially adapted anal tubercle and spinning apparatus. |
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Oecobius maratheus (possible occurrence)
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Wall Spider - Oecobius navus
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Taxonomy:
Phylum: Arthropoda (Arthropods)
> Subphylum: Chelicerata (Chelicerates)
> Class: Arachnida (Arachnids)
> Order: Aranea (Spiders)
> Suborder: Araneomorphae (Typical Spiders)
> Infraorder: Entelegynea (Entelegyne Spiders)
> Superfamily: Eresoidea (Velvet, Flatmesh and Longspinneret Spiders)
> Family: Oecobiidae (Flatmesh Weavers)
> Genus: Oecobius (Wall Spiders)
> Species: O. marathaus ^
> Species: O. navus - Wall Spider
* = likely
^ = possibly
References and links:
> Garcia, L.F. et al, (2014). 'Diet composition and prey selectivity by the spider Oecobius concinnus (Araneae: Oecobiidae) from Colombia.' The Journal of Arachnology, vol. 42, no. 2, May 2014, pp. 199+. Gale Academic OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A404447656/AONE?u=anon~d74296bc&sid=googleScholar&xid=3ee19f81.
> Glatz, L., (1967). 'Zur biologie und morphologie von Oecobius annulipes Lucas (Araneae, Oecobiidae).' Zeitschrift für Morphologie der Tiere, 61(2), 185-214. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF00400986
> Líznarová, E., Sentenská, L., García, L., Pekar, S,. and Viera, C., (2012). 'Local trophic specialisation in a cosmopolitan spider (Araneae).' Zoology (Jena, Germany). 116. 10.1016/j.zool.2012.06.002.
> Voss, S.C., Main, B.Y. and Dadour, I.R., (2007). 'Habitat preferences of the urban wall spider Oecobius navus (Araneae, Oecobiidae).' Australian Journal of Entomology, 46: 261-268. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-6055.2007.00616.x
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oecobiidae
https://spiderbytes.org/2015/12/06/oecobiidae/
> Garcia, L.F. et al, (2014). 'Diet composition and prey selectivity by the spider Oecobius concinnus (Araneae: Oecobiidae) from Colombia.' The Journal of Arachnology, vol. 42, no. 2, May 2014, pp. 199+. Gale Academic OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A404447656/AONE?u=anon~d74296bc&sid=googleScholar&xid=3ee19f81.
> Glatz, L., (1967). 'Zur biologie und morphologie von Oecobius annulipes Lucas (Araneae, Oecobiidae).' Zeitschrift für Morphologie der Tiere, 61(2), 185-214. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF00400986
> Líznarová, E., Sentenská, L., García, L., Pekar, S,. and Viera, C., (2012). 'Local trophic specialisation in a cosmopolitan spider (Araneae).' Zoology (Jena, Germany). 116. 10.1016/j.zool.2012.06.002.
> Voss, S.C., Main, B.Y. and Dadour, I.R., (2007). 'Habitat preferences of the urban wall spider Oecobius navus (Araneae, Oecobiidae).' Australian Journal of Entomology, 46: 261-268. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-6055.2007.00616.x
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oecobiidae
https://spiderbytes.org/2015/12/06/oecobiidae/
Photographic contributions: